Craft rapidly convertible from a catamaran craft into a single-hull craft

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sailing craft that comprises: two hulls ( 1 ) having a transverse cross-section (S 1 ) that is constant on at least ¼ of the length thereof and having planar rear edges oriented along said section; two tubes or profiles ( 2 ) transversally secured to the hulls in the catamaran configuration or longitudinally secured to the hulls joined back-to-back in the pirogue configuration; six attachment points ( 3 ) on each hull for enabling the assembly of the two configurations and to enable a rapid conversion from a catamaran sailing craft into a pirogue rowing craft.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is designed for recreational boating activity. By the proximity it enables to nature and the elements, it is in keeping with the concept of adventure treks and green recreation.

By the alternative and rapid transformation of two boats, the present invention enables movement under sail, at sea or on an open stretch of water, or alternatively by rowing, on a narrow river or when the wind fails.

PRIOR ART

Traditionally, boats are made for a specific mode of propulsion, either for sail for oars. If it is always possible to propel a sail boat with oars, their use is often a very secondary recourse solution, because of the maladaption of the hulls and decks to this type of propulsion. Recreational catamarans are most often propelled by the wind and do not meet the requirements of propulsion by oar, furthermore, their floats, because of their narrowness, height of the center of gravity, are not stable on the water despite their transverse link beams. The variable section of the hulls of current catamarans does not enable an end-to-end assembly of their rears. The pirogue-style boats have the disadvantage of being difficult to transport on the road because of their length.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks in that it can quickly turn a catamaran-type sail boat into a pirogue-type row boat by adopting the structures of one or the other. It has in fact according to a first feature, two identical hulls, having a constant section on at least the ¼ rear of their length, terminated by a flat a rear edge formed according to the aforementioned section, enabling their assembly back against back by any means that be capable of this task, or particularly with the means of two tubes or beams, structural elements of the catamaran boat, attached on the lateral edges in order to constitute the pirogue-type boat.

The decks of the aforementioned hull being provided with six holes designed to receive the attachment of the two aforementioned tubes.

According to particular implementation modes:

-   -   the rear of the two hulls is provided with a dovetail, rail,         bolts and nuts type assembly or by any means sufficing to join         them, the tubes acting as structural support of the pirogue         version.     -   the decks of the two hulls are provided with concave impressions         designed to guide the attachment of the structural tubes, two         transverse for catamaran mounting and two lateral for pirogue         mounting.     -   the two hulls constitute in themselves two boats of the canoe         type.     -   the length of the two hulls can be different, and constitute in         a first state, a pirogue-type sail boat (prao), in a second         state, according to the device of the invention, a pirogue.     -   the shaft support of the rudders constitutes a point of         attachment of the hulls between themselves in the pirogue mode.     -   the connection beams or tubes, in the catamaran version,         penetrate the lateral face of the hulls to be joined by any         means whatsoever, the same tubes penetrating the rear edges of         the hulls to constitute the pirogue version     -   the two boats constituting the invention are made of         polyethylene according to the rotational molding process     -   the pirogue version is provided, with a floating stabilizing         element attached to the end of a tube, itself attached         transversely to the hull, with a small mast and a sail enabling         propulsion by the wind.

Other features of the invention and the advantages that it comprises will become apparent later in the description, in which a preferred implementation form has been illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The figures show respectively:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective the device of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows in plan the device in pirogue mode.

FIG. 3 describes three possible variants of the device for connecting two hulls in the pirogue mode.

FIG. 4 shows in perspective a variant of this device, illustrating how the structural tubes can be assembled and how the device of the invention creates two autonomous canoe-type boats, truncated on the back.

FIG. 5 shows in section a variant of the device for assembly of two hulls using the rudder attachments.

FIG. 6 shows in perspective a variant of the device of the invention.

FIG. 7 describes the possible forms of the constant section of the hulls.

FIG. 8 describes another mode of assembly by the rear and lateral faces of the hulls.

FIG. 9 describes in perspective the various elements composing a boat according to the preferred implementation mode.

FIG. 10 describes in partial front and side section the daggerboard and daggerboard well.

FIG. 11 describes in section a rapid attachment system and in plan a leaf spring.

FIG. 12 describes this invention in pirogue mode provided with a stabilizer and a sail.

FIG. 13 describes in perspective the invention in catamaran mode.

Referring to these drawings, the device comprises: two hulls (1) the cross section (S1) of which is constant over at least ¼ of their length, the two back sides (4) of which are flat and correspond to the aforementioned section S1, two aluminum structural beams or tubes (2) enabling assembly of the two hulls according to a first configuration of the catamaran type or, according to a second configuration of the pirogue type, six attachment points (3) on each hull enabling assembly of the tube/hull of the two configurations.

In the implementation form according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device of the invention satisfies, for the arrangement of attachment points on the hulls (1) and the drilling tubes (2), the following equations: D1=D2 and D4=2×D3

In the implementation form shown in FIG. 3 the two hulls are joined by an assembly system of the dovetail type (A1) or slide type (A2) or bolts nuts type (A3), or by any means whatsoever, the tubes (2) being able to act as structural support.

In the implementation form according to FIG. 4, the decks of the two hulls are provided with concave impressions (quarter round) serving to guide the setting of structural tubes, two transverse (E1) and two lateral (E2). Both hulls are provided with two adjustable seats (5) in order to position two rowers and constitute two autonomous canoe boats type.

In the implementation mode according to FIG. 5, the shaft supports of the rudders (6) of the catamaran configuration are used to join the two hulls in the pirogue mode by means of a shaft (7). The attachment points (3) provide the tube/hull connection.

In the implementation mode according to FIG. 6, the two hulls are of different lengths, but meets the requirements of the assembly according to the device of the invention, and in particular the equation D1=D2 (see FIG. 2), constituting, in a first configuration, a proa-type sailing pirogue, in the second a pirogue.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in a non-exhaustive manner, the possibly envisaged forms (SA)5(SB)1(SC) for the constant cross-section S1.

According to a variant not shown the tube/hull attachment points can comprise a lever clip-type rapid assembly system.

In the implementation mode according to FIG. 8 the structural tubes (2) penetrate, to be attached in some way, the lateral face of the hulls (1) in order to constitute the catamaran version, the rear face of the hulls in order to constitute the pirogue version.

In the implementation mode according to FIG. 12, the pirogue version is provided with a floating stabilizer element (34) attached to the end of a tube (35), itself attached transversely on the hull, by a small mast (36) and by a sail (37) enabling effectuation of wind propulsion.

Preferred implementation form:

According to the preferred implementation form of the invention, FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 13, its device comprises:

-   -   two hulls (1) made by molding in epoxy or polyester resin,         reinforced with fiberglass or something else.     -   a cutout for the daggerboard well (10) made in the bottom of the         hulls     -   two decks (9) made according to the process described above,         provided with concave impressions (e1, e2) designed to receive         and guide the attachment of the structural tube (2), with a wide         opening (11) constituting the cockpit space, with two openings         (12) constituting the access to the front and rear storage         trunks, with six holes (23) designed to receive the attachment         device for the tubes (2), the bolts (24) among other things.     -   two floors (14) made of polyester resin (above process) in the         bottom of the hulls constitute the following elements: a volume         of buoyancy and safety (15), a self-bailing cockpit draining its         water by the daggerboard well.     -   four panels (16) made of polyester resin are glued to the hulls         (1) and floor (14) in order to achieve waterproof isolation of         the front and rear trunk compartments as well as the buoyancy         volume (15)     -   four lids (17) made of any material, closing the access to the         storage trunk, the lids are shaped according to a concave relief         and grooves in order to increase the resistance of it in order         to constitute additional seats to the users in the two boat         versions.     -   four stainless steel plates (18, 19) pierced at the diameter of         the rudder axes are attached, one on the deck, the other under         the rear of the hull in order to meet the requirements, in the         catamaran mode, of the attachment of the rudders, in the pirogue         mode, of the joining of the two hulls between themselves by         means of a shaft (7).     -   by a mast (30) made of three interlockable parts possibly stored         on the internal lateral walls of the hulls (3.1).     -   by a daggerboard well made in each hull by the assembly of the         cutout (10) of the hull, of the cutout (20) of the floor and of         the daggerboard housing (22), which is provided on its interior         faces with four spherical bulges (23) held by blades (24) acting         as a spring. A daggerboard (25), provided with eight spherical         concave impressions (26) is slid into the slot of the housing to         come and set alternately in two positions when the         aforementioned impressions coincide with the spherical bulges         (23), a leaf spring (27) guided at its ends by two grooves (28)         acts to protect the anti bottoming security of the daggerboard.         A hole (29) is made in order to drain the water from the cockpit         floor.     -   by eight attachment devices, of which a description is made         below, according to FIG. 11. A steel blade (40), acting as a         spring, is inserted under the bolt head (41), the latter itself         holding the connection tube and deck elements, joined at its end         by a shaft (42) with a handle (43), of any material, the         aforementioned handle effecting, under the action of the user, a         180° rotation around the shaft (42) to follow the contour of the         tube (2) leading, because of the eccentric position of the shaft         hole with the cylindrical profile (44) a displacement of the         shaft upwards, causing a tensioning of the blade, which         communicates by collar of the bolt head a pressure sufficient to         attach the tube (2) to the deck (9). A hollow volume (45) housed         in the handle receives the fingertips of the user who by a         movement from bottom to top unblocks the device. For non         limitive instruction, the hull shown in FIG. 9 has dimension         4.20×0.80 meter

In the preferred implementation form, according to a variant not shown, the internal walls of the hull (31) are provided with clips used to store, rudder, mast, boom, and paddles elements when the pirogue version is used.

Of course the invention is not limited to the implementation forms that were described above. Modifications can be made in the proportions, the dimensions and the arrangement of components. Other connecting means can be chosen for the assembly of the hulls that implement the two boat versions without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1) Sailing boat characterized in that it comprises: two hulls whose cross section is constant over at least ¼ of their length and whose rear edges are flat and oriented according to the aforementioned section, two tubes or beams attached transversely to the hulls in the catamaran configuration or attached longitudinally to the hulls joined back against back in the pirogue configuration, six points of attachment on each hull to provide the mounting of the two configurations to enable the rapid transformation from a catamaran-type sail boat into a rowboat-type pirogue. 2) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that the two hulls have a constant cross section on at least the ¼ rear of their length and are provided with a rear edge according to this same section, to be assembled back against back and to constitute a pirogue-type boat. 3) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that the same two tubes or beams are used in the two boat arrangements in order to make the connection of the two hulls. 4) Boat according to claim 3 characterized in that the arrangement of the six points of attachment of each hull satisfies the equations D1=D2, and D4=2×D3 where in D1 is determined by the width given to the hulls, and D4 is determined by the distance separating t the two hulls of the catamaran version. 5) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that the rear of the hulls is provided with a dovetail, rail, bolt/nut type assembly or any means enabling joining of the two hulls in pirogue mode. 6) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that the decks of the two hulls are provided with four concave impressions and, formed according to the form of the tubes, and designed to guide the attachment of the tubes in the one or the other of the configurations. 7) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that each of the hulls constitutes in itself an autonomous boat. 8) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that the two hulls are of different length, and satisfy the principles of the invention, with in particular D1=D2, to constitute in a first state a pirogue-type sail boat (prao) and in a second state a pirogue-type boat. 9) Boat according to claim 1 the support characterized in that the support shaft of the rudder is used in addition to tubes or beams to join the two hulls of the pirogue version with a shaft and increase the rigidity of the boat. 10) Boat according to claim 1 characterized in that the tube/hulls attachment points are equipped with a rapid attachment system of the lever-clip handle type. 